City water, sewer rates going up; hikes take effect Jan. 1

Fort Scott city commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved hikes in water and sewer rates, effective Jan. 1.

The increase is a continuation of hikes, similar to last year's increases of the same rates, to "play catch up" after not raising rates for 14 years, Assistant City Manager Susan Brown said.

Although commissioners had information from previous meetings about the rate increases, Brown wanted to review them in more detail for those attending in response to a letter to the editor in The Tribune written by resident Ralph Willard. Brown and City Manager Dave Martin met with Willard Tuesday to address questions raised in his letter.

The ordinances to increase water and sewer rates are the result of $656,000 a year in debt service for system improvements that have not been passed on to the consumer, Brown said. "We were probably using cash reserves instead" of passing the costs on to residents, she said. Meanwhile, the city's infrastructure is aging and there has been a drop in consumption, bringing in less revenue, she said.

Brown noted the utility fees are divided into water, water protection, stormwater and storm drain. During that 14-year period, there were upticks in other utilities, just not water and sewer, Brown said.

The storm drain utility was created in 1992 and is for groundwater that runs off into storm boxes off the street, she said.

In answer to a question in Willard's letter asking whether the city had taken on too many capital projects, causing an increase in city operation costs, Brown said many of the projects were state mandated. "I think we're doing a better job of coordinating our street program with utilities," she said, adding the city is "definitely planning ahead."

Brown noted she understands this is a bad time -- economically -- to be raising water sewer rates, but it's one of the things the city has to do to sustain its utilities.

Director of Utilities Richard Cook said more than $3 million worth of work has been done on collection systems based on inspections conducted in previous years. Flow monitoring equipment has been placed in sewer lines, smoke testing to show any cracks or leaking has been done and the city is in the process of cleaning the sewer lines every three years.

Baseline flow readings are being taken now because it hasn't rained and manhole inspections are ongoing, Cook said.

"We're setting up a program to identify problem areas and get them fixed," Cook said.

Brown said the city normally does not address concerns brought up in letters to the editor, but officials made an exception this time. "We are an open book," Martin said. He added people can talk to city officials at city hall, but they should make an appointment first because their schedules change.

In other business, commissioners:

* Approved the Lake Fort Scott sewer agreement.

* Were told a $36,498 Kansas Airport Improvement grant had been submitted to the state. Deadline was Dec. 15. The Kansas Airport Improvement Program application is to provide the city with consultant assistance to adopt height and hazard regulations based on established FAA airspace protection standards and to coordinate with counties to establish an airport airspace protection program. Brown said this is a 95-5 grant, meaning the state puts in 95 percent and the city, 5 percent.

* Approved a $53,566 bid from Cunningham & Associates of Charlotte, N.C., for new playground equipment at Fisher Park. This is part of a five-year capital improvement plan, according to information from the agenda. Eight bids were received and five met specifications, officials said.

The equipment includes items such as crawl tubes with spy holes, a rock wall climber, curved zip slide, funnel bridge with barrier rail, flip slide, wave climber, chain net, loop ladder climber, a swing set and interlocking rubber tiles.

* Approved canceling a copy machine bid. Martin said the city found a refurbished machine that came in under the amount that needs commission approval.

* Approved a $10,390 bid (base bid of $9,790 and an alternate of $600) from Midland Restoration of Fort Scott to improve Wastewater Treatment Plant Lift Station No. 2.

* Approved an ordinance regarding a in beer garden licenses. The ordinance change is due to the state of Kansas changing its licensing for temporary cereal malt beverage permits. The license now has to be issued for a year, however, this change will allow the license to be picked up 72 hours prior to an event and returned 72 hours afterward, Martin said.

* The commission also recognized Fort Scott High School Family Career and Community Leadership of America sponsor Rita Neinstedt, and the students for Fort Scott High School for their donation of more than 3,000 items to be sent to those serving in the military overseas during the holiday season.

*And recognized Bob Eckles and the volunteers from The Beacon, a local food pantry and community assistance agency.

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Current Water Rates

*Minimum Usage -- Minimum charge per month for up to 200 cubic feet (1,496 gallons) shall be $9.99.

*For the next 4,800 cubic feet of usage (35,904 gallons) the charge will be $3.91 per 100 cubic feet.

*For the next 10,000 cubic feet of usage (74,800 gallons) the charge will be $3.51 per 100 cubic feet.

*For each 100 cubic feet of usage thereafter (748 gallons,) the charge will be $2.51.

New Water Rates

*Minimum Usage -- Minimum charge per month for up to 200 cubic feet (1,496 gallons) shall be $9.99.

*For the next 4,800 cubic feet of usage (35,904 gallons) the charge will be $4.50 per 100 cubic feet.

*For the next 10,000 cubic feet or usage (74,800 gallons) the charge will be $4.04 per 100 cubic feet.

*For each 100 cubic feet of usage thereafter (748 gallons) the charge will be $2.89.

Current Sewer Rates

*Each contributor shall pay a user charge rate of $15.88 per month which will be the minimum base charge per month and include usage up to the first 300 cubic feet of water metered.

*The charge for each 100 cubic feet of water metered beyond the base rate is $1.45 per 100 cubic feet.

New Sewer Rates

*Each contributor shall pay a user charge rate of $17.47 per month which will be the minimum base charge per months and include usage up to the first 300 cubic feet of water metered.

*The charge for each 100 cubic feet of water metered beyond the base rate is $1.60 per 100 cubic feet.